A Guide to Caring for Leather Chairs and Sofas
Once your new Fjords recliner or sofa arrives and is assembled in your home, the fear of getting them dirty may take over. However, we didn’t design beautiful furniture just for you to longingly stare at it. We want you and your family to enjoy the comfort and relaxation it brings.
So, here are some tips on how to clean leather furniture (since that’s our top-selling material), along with guidelines on what to do when something goes wrong.
Cleaning Leather Furniture
Whether you’re looking for general upkeep of your furniture or want to tackle a spill or stain, we have some tips and tricks for keeping high-quality leather looking good.
What is the best way to clean a leather sofa?
To keep your leather sofa or chair looking good all year long, dust it monthly. Simply use a dry cloth to remove dust, then follow up with a leather conditioner or leather cleaning product. This will keep the material soft and prevent minor cracks and stains from becoming permanent.
How to Clean Leather Furniture Naturally
Wondering what the best homemade leather cleaner is? The easiest homemade leather cleaner can be made from two natural ingredients: equal parts white vinegar and warm water. If you have a stubborn stain, blotting a mixture of water and mild dish soap can help. (Don’t aggressively scrub a stain though—that could damage the leather.)
Our leather furniture features a protective coating, so the best homemade leather cleaner may simply be a paper towel or clean cloth if addressed quickly enough.
What household products can you use to clean leather?
For dark stains such as ink, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, then gently massage it on the stain. Be sure to stay directly on the stain so the discoloring doesn’t spread. For protein-based stains (from food or blood), create a paste from two parts cornstarch and one part lemon juice. Another trick is to lightly rub a stain with non-gel, white toothpaste. (Opt for a soft cloth instead of your toothbrush, though.)
Be cautious of quickly grabbing an all-purpose cleaner in a rush to clean a spill or efficiently tidy up your living room. General household cleaners can be made with ingredients that will damage your leather.
If you’re nervous about using a cleaning product or method on your leather, simply first test it out on an inconspicuous part of the furniture.
What should you not use on leather?
Oil-based products should not be used on leather. Also, stay away from products that are not specifically formulated for leather furniture. Specific leather cleansers or conditioners may be more powerful than what you need for the delicate leather used for furniture.
How to Clean Fabric Upholstery
At Fjords, we offer a variety of non-leather options for our recliners, chairs, and sofas. Cleaning fabric upholstery is a little less intimidating than leather, but here are a few tips.
When you vacuum your floors, take a quick pass over your furniture. Be sure to use the upholstery attachment so you don’t damage the chair or sofa. Fabric stain removers and a clean cloth are great to have on hand for when an accidental stain occurs.
Want to clean the entire upholstery? Rent a commercial upholstery cleaner or make a solution of water and a small amount of laundry detergent. If you choose the latter, apply the solution with a cloth or sponge and then gently scrub the fabric with a soft brush. Let the fabric air dry completely before sitting down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is some additional insight into caring for your Fjords furniture.
What do you do when there is a tear in the leather?
The leather we use is quite durable. However, there may come a time when you forget something in your back pocket or a sharp item is hiding under a blanket. Because we use high-quality aniline leather, the visibility of cuts and tears will be minimized.
During the aniline dyeing process, the color goes through multiple layers of leather. So, when the top layer is sliced open, the exposed layers will have the same color. With lower quality leathers, the underlying layers would most likely be a lighter color, and therefore cause the cut to visually standout more.
What do you do when you notice the leather fading?
Over time, low-quality leather will fade if exposed to direct sunlight. If that happens, you’re not looking at a piece of Fjords furniture. We use top grain leather on all exposed parts of the recliner or sofa.
Other brands will use split leather or even vinyl for the back of the furniture and side panels. This helps reduce the cost, but in a few years, you’ll have a multicolored chair or sofa.
What types of leather does Fjords offer?
At Fjords, we only use the top grain, cowhide leather. We offer three different lines: Nordic, Soft, and Astro.
The Nordic Line will have the least amount of corrected imperfections. On the other hand, the Astro Line will have been corrected in multiple areas by buffing out an imperfection and embossing a grain pattern onto the treated area.
Do you offer a warranty on your leather furniture?
Our leather furniture comes with a two-year warranty on the fabric. This is at least a year more than what most manufacturers offer. Our warranty is good for any color coming off or stitching coming undone. If that happens, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
